MAJOR POINTS FROM THE REASON INSTITUTE
on Ozone and Particulate Matter

Contact: Elizabeth Kelly Grace (703) 875-8650

The Reason Public Policy Institute released a major report on Monday May
12, 1997 which showed that the high costs and economic impact of EPA's ozone
and particulate matter standards will likely do more harm than good:

The true costs range between $90 and $150 billion dollars as compared
to the EPA's estimates of $6.5 - $8.5 billion. This would result in the
average reductions in the real income per capita of $250 per year.

Up to 200,000 jobs will be lost with small businesses bearing the brunt
of these losses.

The EPA has vastly inflated the health risk from particulate matter.
In November 1996 they estimated 40,000 premature deaths. In December 1996
they estimated 20,000 deaths. They recently "refined" their numbers
based on reanalysis by Dr. Kay Jones to 15,000 deaths. Dr. Jones announced
Monday May 12th that the EPA made additional mistakes and the number is
actually less than 1,000 deaths per year.

The EPA did not consider the health side-effects of reducing ozone levels
which increases UV radiation. The side-effects will produce an additional
2,000 - 11,000 new cases of skin cancer per year and 13,000 - 28,000 new
cases of cataracts.